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Summer's over, so you know what that means? Scary movies, heavy thinkers and awards contenders. Out of the plethora of films being released these last four months, it was difficult to cherry pick what I was most excited about seeing, let alone whittle that list down to the still-long one below. I thought I had a lot in my summer list, but it has nothing on this one.

Standard disclaimer: This list is in release date order, not preference. Dates are subject to change, and some may not even be released here in Des Moines until after the first of the year, as typically happens with the potential Globe and Oscar nominees.

It (September 8)

Oh man, does it ever look like we're kicking things off with a bang. This has long been one of my favorite Stephen King novels (In fact, I've spent the entire summer re-reading it), so I've been looking forward to this ever since it was announced as finally in production after several false starts. I also like the fact that, in a departure from the interweaving of the two halves of the story in the book, this will solely concentrate on the kids half of the story, with Part 2 coming later. Of course, Bill Skarsgard has some…pardon the pun…pretty big shoes to fill as Pennywise the Clown, made so iconic by Tim Curry in the 1990 TV miniseries.

Mother! (September 15)

After stumbling with his over-blown Noah, it appears Darren Aronofsky is back to form as a more accessible version of David Lynch. The plot looks like a cross between Rosemary's Baby and the original The Wicker Man, though it's hard to tell if it's leaning more toward Satanism or Paganism, or traveling its own road. One thing's for certain, with Aronofsky at the helm, you never know where it's going.

Battle of the Sexes (September 22)

In what looks like the first film of the season bucking for awards, Emma Stone and Steve Carell take on the true story of the famous tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Stone looks like she may come out the winner, with a role that appears meatier than the one-dimensional Riggs. Though, Carell could surprise and pull off some unexpected nuance. It's also nice to see him teamed back up with his Little Miss Sunshine directors.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle (September 22)

The first Kingsman was a blast. It took the James Bond formula and cranked it up to 11, keeping Matthew Vaughn's streak of excellent films alive. This sequel looks to be just as fun, having the British spies cooperate with their American counterparts. I also hope the explanation for the return of Colin Firth's character is properly fitting for this series.

Blade Runner 2049 (October 6)

If you know me or are familiar with my opinions, there are a couple of entries on this list that will come as no surprise. I love the original so much. I even drove miles to another city to see the first Director's Cut back in 1992. My favorite film of last year was the brilliant Arrival. I told people that it belonged on the list of intelligent science fiction with such classics as 2001 and Blade Runner, so it makes perfect sense to me that Denis Villeneuve, the director of Arrival, takes the reigns on this sequel from Ridley Scott.

Geostorm (October 20)

I know, I know. You're thinking, "Really?" Though, if you've read these lists in the past, you should expect at least one movie like this to appear. With the first trailer, I thought, "Why is a summer blockbuster-style movie coming out in October? It must not be that good." Honestly, it probably isn't going to be, but the second trailer makes it look like the film doesn't take itself too seriously, which might work, and might make it surprisingly fun. Open mind, and all.

The Snowman (October 20)

Serial killer thrillers tend to ride the razor's edge (Once again, pardon the pun), especially if they're based on a popular novel. Most of them aspire to be Silence of the Lambs, but more often they don't come anywhere close. This has a great cast and looks appropriately atmospheric, but looks aren't everything. Still, I do like this kind of thriller. Also, a lot of the movies I go to I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy. With this kind of film, I love that my enjoyment is up in the air.

Jigsaw (October 27)

The Saw franchise returns to its home: Halloween weekend. I love this franchise (Except for #5. Soooooooo dull and bad.), and loved the way it brought everything full circle. Since they did wrap things up in a neat little package, I'm very curious to see how they plan to reboot things. Plus, it's in the hands of the underrated Spierig Brothers, whose work I have enjoyed in the past.

Suburbicon (October 27)

George Clooney directing a script written by the Coen Brothers and starring Matt Damon, Julianne Moore and Oscar Isaac. 'Nuff said.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer (November 3)

Colin Farrell reteams with the director of the brilliantly odd The Lobster, taking on a tale of loss and revenge. This one looks incredibly creepy and, like their previous film, could find audiences very divided about it. If nothing else, it has a well-edited trailer.

Thor: Ragnarok (November 3)

For the latest Marvel installment, it looks like they may have taken a cue from James Gunn's handling of the Guardians films: If it's set in space/on another planet, amp up the color palette. That being said, this just looks like a ton of fun.

Murder on the Orient Express (November 10)

It's so nice to see the return of the good, old fashioned murder mystery. Even better to see it in the hands of Kenneth Branagh. I've always been a fan of Sidney Lumet's 1974 star-studded version, but I really like what I'm seeing here. Especially some of the minor changes and liberties Branagh has decided to implement.

Molly's Game (November 22)

Another in the award hopefuls, also based on a true story. Writer and director Aaron Sorkin brings us the story of Molly Bloom, a former Olympic-class skier who ran a high-stakes poker game for years. Jessica Chastain looks like a shoe-in for a few nominations.

The Disaster Artist (December 8)

If you are a connoisseur of bad cinema, then you are no doubt familiar with the Citizen Kane of the genre: Tommy Wiseau's The Room. Based on the memoir of the same name by Greg Sestero, one of the movie's co-stars, it tells the tale of bringing Wiseau's…um…I guess you'd call it "vision"…to the big screen, and its journey into infamy. James Franco directs and stars as Wiseau, with his brother Dave playing Sestero. (Unfortunately, the only trailer as of this writing contains language not suitable for this website, but I highly recommend looking it up on YouTube)

The Shape of Water (December 8)

Guillermo del Toro is back with another offbeat fairy tale, and one that could be an awards contender, to boot. Between her brilliantly touching portrayal in Maudie and her mute cleaning lady in this film, don't be surprised if Sally Hawkins has completely captured your heart by the end of the year.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (December 15)

The other entry, after Blade Runner, that should come as no surprise. It's very hard for me to not get a huge grin every time I see the Lucasfilm logo during the trailers.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (December 20)

This is definitely a case of a movie that shouldn't look like a lot of fun, but it does. Mostly due to Jack Black playing someone who's really a teenage cheerleader and Karen Gillan's self-awareness. Also, this could be the one time Kevin Hart's short jokes don't get tiresome, since there's a reason behind them.

The Greatest Showman (December 25)

Who better to star in a musical about one of the greatest showmen of the 20th century than one of the 21st century's own? Hugh Jackman stars in the story of P.T. Barnum. The combination of classic Hollywood musical style with more contemporary songs should make it a hit. The song featured in the trailer will undoubtedly get nominated.

Whew. That's quite a list, huh? Remember, that's just a small sampling of the films I want to check out this season. It's going to be a very full next four months, or more. Hope I gave you some helpful suggestions.